186 visa requirements - Direct entry stream

Applicants are required to assess their skills for the nominated occupation, by a relevant assessing authority. This assessment is considered a validation of the applicant’s qualifications and abilities to meet Australian standards in the relevant industry.

However, there are applicants who are exempted from the skill assessment requirement. Such applicants can be individuals who are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level A, B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia. Applicants can also be a scientist, researcher, or technical specialist by an Australian government scientific agency.

Special Category Visa (SC 444) holders or New Zealand Family Relationship visa (SC 461) holders, who have worked for their nominating employer for a minimum of 2 years in the last 3 years before applying for this visa are exempted.

An important criterion to be satisfied by the applicants of the direct entry stream applicants is the work experience requirement. Applicants can fulfill this requirement if they have been employed in their nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis. The experience must correspond to the skill level required by the nominated occupation. The three years of work experience required need not be gained in 3 consecutive years or immediately before the visa application as long as the total work experience amounts to an average of 38 hours per week over a total period. 

It is to be noted that if the applicant is exempt from satisfying the skill assessment requirement then they need not fulfill the work experience requirement either.

One of the main component of the Direct Entry stream is for the applicant to be nominated for an occupation under Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Direct Entry nomination provisions. This is important as it acts as the foundation of the visa application. At the same time, the identified position must be in the relevant occupation list at the time of nomination​​.

However, it is not required for the applicant to have worked  with the nominating employer previously to be eligible for SC 186 visa in the Direct Entry Stream.

The applicants are required to be under the age of 45 years at the time of application, this is aimed at bringing in a skilled but relatively young work force to Australia.

However, the age requirement is not applicable for individuals who are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level A, B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia, or an applicant who is a scientist, researcher, or technical specialist by an Australian government scientific agency,

Special Category Visa (SC 444) or New Zealand Family Relationship visa (SC 461) visa holders who have worked for the nominating employer for a minimum of 2 years in the last 3 years before applying for this visa are exempted from the age requirement.

Applicants must demonstrate competent English as the Proficiency in English is non-negotiable. i.e., the applicants must have an IELTS score of at least 6 for each band or PTE score of 60 for each band.

The Subclass 186 Visa under the Direct Entry Stream offers a great opportunity for migrants seeking Australian Permanent Residency. This stream offers clear pathway based on the various types of requirements, which you can assess. Also the exemptions to the work experience requirement, age requirement and skill assessment requirement provide flexibility to applicants. Therefore, the proper understanding of this stream is can be significant for a successful application.